Here is an artice my Sifu wrote, thought some peope here might be interested to read it. (i think its probably very different to the way most poeple think about WC)
S.Teebas
The Consciousness of Focusing
Focusing is a conscious intention; a thinking with an aim. Although one wants to focus or concentrate one’s force to the opponent, one should not physically force one’s body to do such movements like pushing forward in order to achieve the focusing intention. If the muscle is forced to move forward, it will become tensed and will become more so especially when it was under pressure from the opponent. Tensed up muscles will decrease the mass one can use and also the mobility of one’s movements will deteriorate which means the ability to attack will decrease. Those forced movements are techniques and are not the movements which are expected to happen under focusing. Physically, the intention of focusing brings out only the most natural conscious movements one uses in the daily life and these natural movements will already produce power.
In the article of ‘Wing Chun Power’, we have discussed the formation of power which is from the combination of mass and speed together. The importance of focusing in Wing Chun is not that it can increase the power one has developed. The important is on the side that focusing can concentrate and direct the force developed continuously to the target even though the mass is still moving. As focusing is an intention to concentrate and direct, it does not require the support from the muscular side of the body. This explains the point as mentioned in the article of ‘Wing Chun Power’ that movements will not affect focusing and focusing also will not restrict the mobility of the body. Therefore, one can attack the opponent at different angles and the power generated from the motions of the mass will be concentrated and directed by focusing intention to the target.
In practicing focusing, one should start with the Siu Nim Tau form. Firstly, we should be familiar with the movements of the form. At the second stage, we have to concentrate on the continuation of the focusing intention. If we cannot perform the form fluently, our mind will switch between movements and correct intention which make focusing on and off all the time. At the last stage, we have to fill up this focusing intention inside every part of our bodies. At that time, when one’s mind is trying to plan one’s attack, it will not affect the stability of the focusing. Actually, as long as focusing intention exists, it will make one’s body react more naturally and properly.
Focusing begins with Siu Nim Tau form, but after one understands how to train up the intention, one can also practice it at the other two forms: Chum Kiu and Biu Gee. Practicing focusing intention need to start with the forms because self-training can be more easier to concentrate one’s mind when one’s body is not affected by the outside force.
This does not mean that one can fully train up the focusing intention with the forms only because we need to maintain the continuation of focusing when one is under pressure in a continued moving situation. Therefore, one has to practice sticking hands. One needs to maintain our focusing when under pressure and continuously being disturbed by the opponent. If one only uses one’s body to deal with the opponent during sticking hands, signals such as: fighting against, self-protecting, not wanting to be hit or feeling tired in the muscles, will appear in one’s mind. Then, it is impossible for one to keep the training on focusing. In order to reduce the disturbance, one needs to maintain the flexibility of the movements which depends on the perfection of one’s structure.
Articles can only explain an individual part of Wing Chun. If one just concentrate on a certain part of the system, one cannot explore the true power of Wing Chun. The success of Wing Chun depends on whether one can merge all the parts together as one and makes it as close to perfect as possible.
Susana Ho (2/2002)
